Now free of Spain's control and able to hold on to 100% of the revenues from its mining industry, Guanajuato's silver barons were able to prosper even more. This surge of wealth brought with it a slew of new mansions, churches and theaters, beautiful constructions which added charm and beauty to the already picturesque city.
In more recent years, Guanajuato has been no stranger to prosperity and beauty. The city's artistic tradition flourished, yielding master talents like artist Diego Rivera. In the mid-19th century, the river which once flowed right beneath the city through tunnels was redirected and a dam was built. Lighting and cobblestones were installed in those very same tunnels, which then rediverted all the car traffic into a fascinating underground road network. In the past few decades Guanajuato has enjoyed extremely low unemployment rates, high export rates and a prosperous tourist industry.
